Former world number one Mats Wilander does not believe Roger Federer is a leading contender to win this year’s US Open.
The final Grand Slam of the season is gets underway at Flushing Meadows next week and 20-time major winner Federer is expected to be among the frontrunners to claim overall glory once again.
The Swiss ace has won the US Open on five previous occasions although the most recent came in 2008, while he was only able to make it as far as the quarter-finals 12 months ago before losing in four sets to Juan Martin del Potro.
Federer has maintained his usual high standards this season, winning three titles, including the Australian Open in January, but former US Open champion Wilander does not regard the 37-year-old as one of the main candidates to claim overall glory in New York, and he has instead tipped Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to go far.
“Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are of course the biggest favourites. I’m not sure you can put Roger Federer together with the two,” Wilander told the Swedish branch of Eurosport.
Wilander has been particularly impressed with Djokovic’s recent form as the Serbian appears to have put his injury problems behind him by winning prestigious events over the last few months, including Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Masters.
“When I watch Novak play nowadays, I do not think he plays the same as before, it’s something different. Outside the court, he seems very humble and relaxed, but he gets very driven as soon as he is back on the track,” Wilander added. “Novak is favourite, but he has Rafael.”
